Five Acts of Negligence to Avoid on Halloween

Are you going trick-or-treating this year? If so, we hope you get lots of candy, instead of lots of calls from personal injury attorneys. Spooky season is here, and fall is in full swing—with car accident attorney season being right around the corner. However, you don’t want to be searching for “car accident attorney near me” before snow even hits the ground. That’s why we’ve compiled five acts of negligence to avoid on Halloween. Hopefully this will keep you eating candy, and staying out of our office—although we would love for you to come into our office if you have a claim we can help with. 

Drunk Driving 

Drunk driving isn’t just scary; it’s deadly. Tragically thousands of people die every year due to drunk driving. Alcohol is a popular way to celebrate many occasions, from birthdays to New Year’s Eve, to Halloween. If you’re partaking in alcohol, you need to arrange a ride home before you begin drinking. Many people who end up driving drunk don’t plan on driving home drunk. Instead, they start drinking and end up driving home, reasoning that they aren’t that drunk. The problem is, alcohol impairs judgment. So it’s not uncommon for people to be very drunk while feeling or thinking that they’re only “buzzed.” 

Dangerous Driving 

When you’re driving through neighborhoods on Halloween, you need to make sure that your headlights are on and that you’re looking for any children that may be dressed in dark clothing or crossing the street. Some children may be unsupervised, or may not be paying attention to where they’re walking. The might walk alongside the street if there isn’t a sidewalk, so look out for children in those areas as well. A lot of people use their phones in neighborhoods because they reason that the slower speed limits make it safe to change the song, or respond to a text. On Halloween and the days leading up to Halloween, it’s important to avoid this behavior—although you really should be avoiding it all year. 

Wardrobe Malfunctions 

Halloween costumes can cause injury. If you’re using make-up or face paint, make sure that you’re not using anything that’s going to irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction. Your shoes should be comfortable to walk in, and they shouldn’t be a tripping hazard. If your Halloween costume hangs too low, you may need to hem it so that you don’t trip over it. Also, depending on where you are, you may need to bundle up when you go trick or treating as the temperatures are getting colder. Lastly, if you’re attending an event, make sure you’re following all the rules when it comes to fake weapons and masks. 

Haunted Houses 

Did you know that property owners are generally liable for any injuries that happen on their property? Though property owners aren’t usually liable for injuries that trespassers sustain, children are almost never legally considered trespassers. On Halloween, make sure your porch and the area leading up to it are well-lit. Don’t leave objects in your lawn that children may trip over if they’re passing through your lawn. If you have pets, make sure they’re not outside on Halloween, especially if you have dogs. If there are land formations in your front yard that could cause a person to sustain injury, it may be a good idea to take reasonable precautions to ensure that nobody is injured. 

Practical Jokes 

It’s not uncommon for people to play practical jokes on each other on Halloween. Unfortunately, some people take things way too far and end up causing injury and/or property damage. Make sure you aren’t attempting any dangerous pranks this Halloween. If you have children, you should make sure that they don’t have plans to prank their friends in an unsafe manner as well. With the invention of TikTok, many dangerous online challenges are circulating faster than ever. To protect your child from dangerous online challenges, it’s a good idea to have discussions with them about the dangers associated with TikTok challenges. In some cases, it may be a good idea not to allow your child to partake in Halloween activities unsupervised.  

Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer? 

Need a car accident attorney? That’s us. Got a premises liability case? We’re here for you. At Moxie Law Group, our personal injury attorneys have the expertise you need to get the compensation you need to recover from your injuries. If you’ve been injured, and you are trying to decide what the next step will benefit you, contact Moxie Law Group today for a free consultation.